Notes: How many fans can fit in a stadium with social distancing?
Some Thursday random notes:
AD says look for social distancing in stadiums
If there is indeed a college football season in the fall, it will be with social distancing in the stands predicts at least one SEC athletic director.
Josh Kendall of The Athletic tweeted that South Carolina AD Ray Tanner told people at a town hall, “Social distancing will be in place at Williams-Brice and our other venues. We are running models to see what kind of attendance we could have.”
Last week I talked with Jack Knowlton, whose Sackatoga Stable owns prime Kentucky Derby contender Tiz the Law, about the uncertainty in horse racing. Knowlton said that an architect ran a study that showed with social distancing a 50,000 seat stadium could accommodate 17 percent capacity. That’s 8,500 fans.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenenz told the Miami Herald he is expecting Dolphins and University of Miami games with small crowds or no crowds. “I see empty stadiums or I see sparse stadiums, let’s put it that way. Because there is no antiviral and there is no vaccine. So as long as that’s the case, and then if we think the virus is as deadly and also we think the virus is as communicable as we do right now, it’s going to be very hard to do that.”
Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was asked by the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum if there will be college football in Ohio. “I don’t know,” DeWine said. “Anyone who tells you they know is making it up, and I’m not going to make it up.”
Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick says there is “significant chance” the 2020 season begins without conferences playing simultaneously.
Said Mississippi State AD (and former UK baseball coach) John Cohen: “There are some really smart people at the conference and national level that are looking at this,” Cohen said this week. “It’s really important to know that this is a safety-first situation and we don’t want to put anyone in jeopardy. That’s our main area of importance. We all want to have football, we all want to start on time and we want people in the stands.”
▪ The Big 12 announced its media days, scheduled for July 20-21 in Arlington, Texas, will instead be held virtually. The Big 12 joins the Mountain West, MAC, C-USA and American Athletic Conference in switching to virtual media days. No word yet on the SEC. It’s media days are scheduled for mid-July in Atlanta.
Kentucky basketball’s big man transfer
The big Kentucky basketball news Wednesday involved a big man. Olivier Sarr, the 7-foot native of France, announced that he is transferring from Wake Forest to Kentucky. Sarr averaged 13.7 points and nine rebounds a game last season.
“I am excited to coach Olivier,” UK head coach John Calipari said in a press release. “Olivier is a great kid and a terrific player on the rise who knows he’s going to have to come in and lead. He gives us a veteran, established player who has not only played on a big stage and played well, he wants this next challenge.
“When we first talked to Olivier, my first thought wasn’t on what he does for this team, it was why he wanted to be here. I coached Danny and know his relationship with his players, so when Danny talked about what a great kid he is, we said, ‘Let’s do this.’”
Sarr will need an NCAA transfer waiver to play next season. Without the waiver, he’s a sit one/play one case. That Wake Forest coach Danny Manning was fired should help Sarr with the waiver. On the other hand, the NCAA has not been as sympathetic to older players in that regard as younger players.
▪ Ben Roberts writes on the 10 new recruits on next season’s Kentucky basketball team.
▪ I wrote about UK’s newest basketball gift. But when will the Cats get to take it out of the box?
▪ Guess who was on a UK basketball Zoom call: Rick Pitino.
▪ The SEC has named Mike Eades as its new coordinator of men’s basketball officials.
▪ East Tennessee State promoted Jason Shay to head coach replacing Steve Forbes, who left for Wake Forest. UK assistant Joel Justus was reportedly a candidate for the ETSU job.
▪ Michigan guard Cole Bajema has entered the transfer portal while former Michigan center Colin Castleton is transferring to Florida.
▪ Missouri signed former Hawaii point guard Drew Buggs as a graduate transfer
▪ Michigan State’s Aaron Henry has signed with one of the 23 NBA certified agents, meaning he could return to school
▪ Oklahoma and Arkansas have scheduled two games in Tulsa. Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman worked for Oklahoma Coach Lon Kruger in the NBA.
▪ Kansas announced this week it is reducing men’s basketball ticket prices. Last year, you could get a Jayhawks ticket package for as low as $975. This year, the lowest package will cost $500.
Kentucky football gets an in-state commitment
UK football received a commitment Wednesday from North Hardin running back/safety LaVell Wright, a 6-foot, 204-pounder from Radcliff. Josh Moore has the details.
The Cats also offered class of 2022 quarterback Gavin Wimsatt out of Owensboro. The 6-3, 200-pound Wimsatt is a pro-style prospect.
Meanwhile, UK tight end/fullback Drew Schlegel has entered the transfer portal. Schlegel played in all 13 games last season.
▪ Pro Football Focus ranks UK’s Boogie Watson as second-best edge defender returning in the SEC. Malik Herring (90.5) of Georgia is No. 1; Watson (81.6) is No. 2, Azeez Ojulari (78.0) of Georgia is No. 3.
▪ Earlier this week, I wrote about Don Shula’s time as a Kentucky football assistant coach in 1959. That was the first time he worked with Paris native Bill Arnsparger, also a Blanton Collier assistant in ’59. Shula and Arnsparger coached in five Super Bowls together. The winningest coach in NFL history, Shula passed away Monday at age 90.
▪ I also did a blog post on that famous Collier staff of 1959. Five went on to become NFL head coaches. Collier won an NFL title in 1964. Shula won Super Bowls in 1971 and 1972. And Howard Schnellenberger won a college national championship in 1983.
▪ ESPN expert says there is no reason to be alarmed by Alabama’s thin recruiting class for 2021.
More really random notes
▪ The games may have stopped, but sports is still producing winners and losers, writes Mark Story of the Herald-Leader.
▪ Brett Favre is having to explain reports he received $1.1 million in welfare funds through a nonprofit for speeches.
▪ Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes on retiring Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw. “When McGraw lived on Dean Street in West Chester, just finishing up high school at Bishop Shanahan, she could walk over to see West Chester State and also the Mighty Macs of nearby Immaculata — that storybook dynasty unfolding just as McGraw was nearing the end of high school. Before that, the barnstorming All-American Red Heads showing up at West Chester was the best chance, McGraw said, to see live women’s hoops.”
▪ Former Tennessee football star Charles Davis is leaving Fox Sports to join with Ian Eagle on CBS’ NFL broadcasts. Davis replaces Dan Fouts.
▪ The NFL will announce its 2020 schedule at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
▪ The Dallas Cowboys’ Stephen Jones says having Andy Dalton as a backup is like when the Eagles had Nick Foles. The Eagles won a Super Bowl with Foles subbing for the injured Carson Wentz.
▪ Former Alabama quarterback and first-round draft pick Tua Tagovailoa will wear No. 1 with the Miami Dolphins. Tagovailoa is not allowed to wear No. 13 with the Dolphins. That number was worn and retired by Dan Marino.
▪ Speaking of Marino. David Arnsparger, son of Bill Arnsparger, told me that when Marino had his first child, he borrowed a crib from the Arnspargers.
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 7:52 AM.
